Best Tecton Review on UA-cam. Just bought these at ProSki and took them for a little test drive this morning.... very impressive 👍 I was a bit worried because I don’t want to give up any downhill performance, but Fritschi did an amazing job...
Thank you for a superb review covering every aspect one would want to know about. I have a question about the small plastic piece that moves at the toe - it is above the bump with green tape that helps position the toe on entry. This piece on my binding broke off after a few runs in deep snow. As far as I can tell the loss of that piece does not affect the lateral release of the toe binding. It might affect a 100% front movement that would cause a release by pushing the lever down into step-in mode. Have you seen this piece break? AM I correct that lateral release is not affected? Thanks for any advice you can give. I live in a remote area of Canada and do not have access to a shop or certified dealer.
Fantastic in depth review, thanks so much for it! It has been a long time since I bought my last pair of touring skies and bindings and one can be overwhelmed with all the developments in recent years. But this gives me a pretty decent impression of the Tecton 12 binding. I think I will give it a go!
Thank you. Please let us know if we can send you one. Be sure to get one with the latest to bumper. It solves some boot - binding incompatibility issues.
Just a heads up, these are bindings are not compatible with a lot of boots that have dynafit inserts. I have some salomon x alp boots and the bumper that engages the toe piece essentially blocks the mobility of the boot in touring mood. I was only able to move the boot about 20 degrees in tour mood before the bumper blocked toe.
Hi all; I want to address the topic of incompatibility of the Fritschi Tecton and Vipec toepiece with certain boots. First off let me explain the function of the toe bumper really quick. It is there so that the nose of the boot can actually open up the toe piece if you were to go "over the handle bars. Fritschi made the conscious decision to create a point of boot/ binding contact early enough during the forward fall progression, so that you actually come out of the toe piece before your head is in the snow (or on the ice). Dynafit does not have a toe bumper per say, but the boot will eventually open up the binding. It just comes a lot later, meaning you will not inhibit stride length, but it may come at a certain cost of safety in case of a forward fall. How quickly the boot contacts, depends on the size of the toe lip and shape of the boot nose. Here are some stats of different boots that show the different ranges of motion before the various boots contact the toe bumper in walk mode. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RANGE OF MOTION IS NOT THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR COMPATIBILITY. HERE IS A GOOD VIDEO WORTH WATCHING THAT EXPLAINS FRITSCHI'S 4 POINT SAFETY CHECK AND COMPATIBILITY SYSTEM. CHECK IT OUT: ua-cam.com/video/RwdtUHJtp_E/v-deo.html
Best review so far on the Tecton. But also a really good review in general covering the most important areas. I'm considering upgrading before this season to a binding with touring capabilities. I'm going for a Black Crows Atris skiing mostly off-piste 80% of the time. And 20 % on piste. I will be a one-ski-quiver that I bring when traveling. But I haven't toured that much and I'm not sure how often I will. Probably mostly taking the skilift up and walk 30-60 minutes or so from there to get to where I want. Would this be a binding I should consider although I'm mostly not using its touring capabilities? I'm also considering frame bindings, but the weight of those scares me to be honest. I'm an advanced skier and ski most terrains. I don't butter or spin when jumping etc, but I do jump small cliffs off-piste.
Thanks for the comment! This binding would be a great option for what you listed above. Frame bindings with a releasable heel will offer better skiing performance, but the weight penalties are significant. As far as bindings with tech toes are concerned, the Tecton 12 is the best performing and will easily handle aggressive skiing, cliff jumps and any sort of conditions you were to throw at it. The Atris would be a great ski to pair with the Tecton 12 as well. We at Pro Ski and Mountain Service are big on Black Crows. Another ski I would consider and is an employee favorite is the Corvus Freebird. Let us know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for the quick reply! Question is, when you say ".. better skiing performance.." regarding frame bindings, is there a way for me to better understand this without giving both options a real life test? Like on a scale from 1-10, where is the Tecton in skiing performance and where is some of the better frame bindings? If a 10 is what I use now which is a 4Frnt Attack 18. Regarding the Atris I've tested the 17/18 season ski and love how much I could push them over choppy bumps without the feel that the are all over the place. One of my skis are the 2014 Rossi Squad 7 (which is a bit wider) and I feel they are too light in tip and tail. They are really good when snow conditions are great, but it normally isn't perfect. I like the stiffness in the Atris and I dont need the Rossis width. So I'm moving down. Will the Corvus Freebird be closer to the Atris than the Rossis if you consider my thoughts above regarding weight? Thanks again for your time!
Hello Vegar. Essentially frame bindings bring the advantage of weight. This sounds strange I know, but when power transfer is a big topic, a bit of weight creates mass and it improves quiet steering of the ski. This is of course only worth the weight hassle if the ski to binding connection is rock solid. This would be the case with a Marker Baron for example, but the walking performance with the less than ideal pivot point and large weight penalty makes it a poor option for anything but very casual touring. This is why we give the Tecton a big thumbs up for anyone who is looking for a quiver of one binding and who expects great ski performance and great walking performance.
Thank you for the incredible review. I'm curious if you'd think that these bindings would fit my needs in a binding. Currently, I'm looking for a new binding after breaking my heel piece on my dyanfit radical FTF. Too many years of hucking cliffs and riding in bounds as well as out of bounds. I'm looking for a binding that I can huck cliffs on in bounds days as well as ski no fall zone terrain in the mountains. I liked the ability to lockout my toes on the downhill when I entered consequential terrain on a big mountain descent, but hated the pre release I'd get when trying to get after it in the resort or on powder day cliff hucks when I didn't want to lock it out for either avy concerns or just not ripping my knee out falling off cliff jumps. My question is, would you trust your life to this binding not pre releasing in consequential terrain in variable snow condtions when a fall would be fatal, but be psyched to ride it in bounds and push the terrain? In a way I'd rather have a binding that pre released on me in bounds but that I could lockout on big ski descents with exposure. What's your take on my needs and would you recommend this binding?
Fantastic review! You mention the toe binding does not lock in walking mode, it only adds 20% or so resistance. Is there a risk of popping out at the toe when climbing, say traversing something hard or icy where you have to kick to get an edge in?
Thanks for the comment! I would not say there is a high risk of popping out unless you are really smashing down on your skis at a weird angle. I think you can notice the slightest bit of movement when you are side hilling on really firm terrain, but that is really splitting hairs. Hope that helps!
Sounds Great DP, If you are local to Seattle come by the shop! If not you can always call us to place an order and we will send it to you! Thanks so much.
Pro Ski and Mountain Service thanks for the reply. I have already mounted it and ritten it. Really like the binding. Great video it provided great showcase of the binding.
Thanks for a great review. Having trouble deciding whether to pull the trigger on these. I am looking for a 100% touring / mountaineering binding. Not for skimo racing, not for inbounds. I plan to put them on a pair of La Sportiva Vapor Svelte's. I am 6'4" 205lbs, very experienced but not looking to drop big cliffs or charge full speed in the backcountry. This seems like an ideal binding in many ways, but I'm just not quite sold on the weight. Do you have any thoughts on whether it would be logical to put this binding on such a light ski?
Bob, Our experience is that the brake widths are relatively close to their stated measurements. That being said, you can easily bend the brakes to accommodate a wider ski! Thanks for the view Bob!
I am after a binding that can be used on green blue slope in telemark mode and switch to alpine when on red black or off piste. With the option to tour...is there such a binding.?
El, This binding can not be used as a Telemark binding, only as a ski binding in downhill mode. There is not a binding that can be used as both a tele binding and downhill binding to our knowledge. Thanks for the comment!
Is this binding the same as the Black Diamond Tecton? I'm in the market for backcountry camping skis and have been looking at Nordic and Telemark, but I want a ski and binding that will tour and work for downhill; do recommend this binding over any other for this purpose?
I'm interested in the written long term review montioned in the video - but unfortunately the link in the description doesn't get me there... Anyone have a working link to the review?
Absolutely Not. Tele bindings drive turn from ball of foot. Tech fittings only allow you to hinge feely from front of toe for climbing only. If you try a tele-turn with an AT/Tech toe you will rip toe piece out of ski...I've seen it.
Pro Ski and Mountain Service - Fair point, but the Tecton is itself heavy by the standard of the lightest tech bindings, at around 600g more per pair than Speedfits. For the Freeride/Day Tour market, the 370g difference between Tecton & the Shift is probably not a deal breaker. Especially when considering the advantages of a proper downhill DIN certified binding with full elastic movement (47mm front v 13mm on Tecton), and the frame bindings (e.g. Baron at 2708g, Shift at 1700g) that most people in this market segment are used to. Great review BTW!
2022, still being watched.
Good level of information and details.
Thanks.
Best Tecton Review on UA-cam. Just bought these at ProSki and took them for a little test drive this morning.... very impressive 👍 I was a bit worried because I don’t want to give up any downhill performance, but Fritschi did an amazing job...
C'est énervant de voir cette démo faite avec un modèle ancien qui n'est plus en vente et faisait très bien mon affaire
Thank you for a superb review covering every aspect one would want to know about. I have a question about the small plastic piece that moves at the toe - it is above the bump with green tape that helps position the toe on entry. This piece on my binding broke off after a few runs in deep snow. As far as I can tell the loss of that piece does not affect the lateral release of the toe binding. It might affect a 100% front movement that would cause a release by pushing the lever down into step-in mode. Have you seen this piece break? AM I correct that lateral release is not affected? Thanks for any advice you can give. I live in a remote area of Canada and do not have access to a shop or certified dealer.
Fantastic in depth review, thanks so much for it! It has been a long time since I bought my last pair of touring skies and bindings and one can be overwhelmed with all the developments in recent years. But this gives me a pretty decent impression of the Tecton 12 binding. I think I will give it a go!
Thank you. Please let us know if we can send you one. Be sure to get one with the latest to bumper. It solves some boot - binding incompatibility issues.
Just a heads up, these are bindings are not compatible with a lot of boots that have dynafit inserts. I have some salomon x alp boots and the bumper that engages the toe piece essentially blocks the mobility of the boot in touring mood. I was only able to move the boot about 20 degrees in tour mood before the bumper blocked toe.
Hi all; I want to address the topic of incompatibility of the Fritschi Tecton and Vipec toepiece with certain boots. First off let me explain the function of the toe bumper really quick. It is there so that the nose of the boot can actually open up the toe piece if you were to go "over the handle bars.
Fritschi made the conscious decision to create a point of boot/ binding contact early enough during the forward fall progression, so that you actually come out of the toe piece before your head is in the snow (or on the ice). Dynafit does not have a toe bumper per say, but the boot will eventually open up the binding. It just comes a lot later, meaning you will not inhibit stride length, but it may come at a certain cost of safety in case of a forward fall.
How quickly the boot contacts, depends on the size of the toe lip and shape of the boot nose.
Here are some stats of different boots that show the different ranges of motion before the various boots contact the toe bumper in walk mode.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RANGE OF MOTION IS NOT THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR COMPATIBILITY.
HERE IS A GOOD VIDEO WORTH WATCHING THAT EXPLAINS FRITSCHI'S 4 POINT SAFETY CHECK AND COMPATIBILITY SYSTEM.
CHECK IT OUT: ua-cam.com/video/RwdtUHJtp_E/v-deo.html
Best review so far on the Tecton. But also a really good review in general covering the most important areas. I'm considering upgrading before this season to a binding with touring capabilities. I'm going for a Black Crows Atris skiing mostly off-piste 80% of the time. And 20 % on piste. I will be a one-ski-quiver that I bring when traveling. But I haven't toured that much and I'm not sure how often I will. Probably mostly taking the skilift up and walk 30-60 minutes or so from there to get to where I want. Would this be a binding I should consider although I'm mostly not using its touring capabilities? I'm also considering frame bindings, but the weight of those scares me to be honest. I'm an advanced skier and ski most terrains. I don't butter or spin when jumping etc, but I do jump small cliffs off-piste.
Thanks for the comment!
This binding would be a great option for what you listed above. Frame bindings with a releasable heel will offer better skiing performance, but the weight penalties are significant. As far as bindings with tech toes are concerned, the Tecton 12 is the best performing and will easily handle aggressive skiing, cliff jumps and any sort of conditions you were to throw at it. The Atris would be a great ski to pair with the Tecton 12 as well. We at Pro Ski and Mountain Service are big on Black Crows. Another ski I would consider and is an employee favorite is the Corvus Freebird. Let us know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for the quick reply! Question is, when you say ".. better skiing performance.." regarding frame bindings, is there a way for me to better understand this without giving both options a real life test? Like on a scale from 1-10, where is the Tecton in skiing performance and where is some of the better frame bindings? If a 10 is what I use now which is a 4Frnt Attack 18.
Regarding the Atris I've tested the 17/18 season ski and love how much I could push them over choppy bumps without the feel that the are all over the place. One of my skis are the 2014 Rossi Squad 7 (which is a bit wider) and I feel they are too light in tip and tail. They are really good when snow conditions are great, but it normally isn't perfect. I like the stiffness in the Atris and I dont need the Rossis width. So I'm moving down. Will the Corvus Freebird be closer to the Atris than the Rossis if you consider my thoughts above regarding weight? Thanks again for your time!
Hello Vegar. Essentially frame bindings bring the advantage of weight. This sounds strange I know, but when power transfer is a big topic, a bit of weight creates mass and it improves quiet steering of the ski. This is of course only worth the weight hassle if the ski to binding connection is rock solid. This would be the case with a Marker Baron for example, but the walking performance with the less than ideal pivot point and large weight penalty makes it a poor option for anything but very casual touring. This is why we give the Tecton a big thumbs up for anyone who is looking for a quiver of one binding and who expects great ski performance and great walking performance.
That makes sense! Thanks for helping me out!
Thank you for the incredible review. I'm curious if you'd think that these bindings would fit my needs in a binding. Currently, I'm looking for a new binding after breaking my heel piece on my dyanfit radical FTF. Too many years of hucking cliffs and riding in bounds as well as out of bounds. I'm looking for a binding that I can huck cliffs on in bounds days as well as ski no fall zone terrain in the mountains. I liked the ability to lockout my toes on the downhill when I entered consequential terrain on a big mountain descent, but hated the pre release I'd get when trying to get after it in the resort or on powder day cliff hucks when I didn't want to lock it out for either avy concerns or just not ripping my knee out falling off cliff jumps.
My question is, would you trust your life to this binding not pre releasing in consequential terrain in variable snow condtions when a fall would be fatal, but be psyched to ride it in bounds and push the terrain? In a way I'd rather have a binding that pre released on me in bounds but that I could lockout on big ski descents with exposure.
What's your take on my needs and would you recommend this binding?
Fantastic review! You mention the toe binding does not lock in walking mode, it only adds 20% or so resistance. Is there a risk of popping out at the toe when climbing, say traversing something hard or icy where you have to kick to get an edge in?
Thanks for the comment! I would not say there is a high risk of popping out unless you are really smashing down on your skis at a weird angle. I think you can notice the slightest bit of movement when you are side hilling on really firm terrain, but that is really splitting hairs. Hope that helps!
Cheers for the response! I'm after a binding to replace my 2011 Marker F12s...sounds like this is finally the one. Awesome!
Sounds Great DP, If you are local to Seattle come by the shop! If not you can always call us to place an order and we will send it to you! Thanks so much.
Would you say. That it would be able to use this binding for both touring and resort skiing.
Pro Ski and Mountain Service thanks for the reply. I have already mounted it and ritten it. Really like the binding. Great video it provided great showcase of the binding.
Thank u for great review with a load of arguments and facts, not just feelings. Keep bar high
Thanks Jan, we like to geek out on the tech around here every once in a while!
Thanks for a great review. Having trouble deciding whether to pull the trigger on these. I am looking for a 100% touring / mountaineering binding. Not for skimo racing, not for inbounds. I plan to put them on a pair of La Sportiva Vapor Svelte's. I am 6'4" 205lbs, very experienced but not looking to drop big cliffs or charge full speed in the backcountry. This seems like an ideal binding in many ways, but I'm just not quite sold on the weight. Do you have any thoughts on whether it would be logical to put this binding on such a light ski?
you look like Peter Fonda in his Easy Rider days. And you pronounced TÜV correctly!
Very concise review. Thanks for posting!
Can it not be used at low speed to telemark. Why not?
I’ve read that nominal brake widths on the Tecton tend to be larger than normal. Can you verify this?
Bob,
Our experience is that the brake widths are relatively close to their stated measurements. That being said, you can easily bend the brakes to accommodate a wider ski! Thanks for the view Bob!
I am after a binding that can be used on green blue slope in telemark mode and switch to alpine when on red black or off piste. With the option to tour...is there such a binding.?
El,
This binding can not be used as a Telemark binding, only as a ski binding in downhill mode. There is not a binding that can be used as both a tele binding and downhill binding to our knowledge.
Thanks for the comment!
Is this binding the same as the Black Diamond Tecton? I'm in the market for backcountry camping skis and have been looking at Nordic and Telemark, but I want a ski and binding that will tour and work for downhill; do recommend this binding over any other for this purpose?
Yes, Black Diamond are the distributor in North America.
I'm interested in the written long term review montioned in the video - but unfortunately the link in the description doesn't get me there... Anyone have a working link to the review?
www.proskiservice.com/tripreports/fritschi-tecton-test/
Sorry about that Anton. Try the link attached here!
Thank you. Well done review. Concise even at 12 minutes long.
I have Line Sick Day skis with 110 mm underfoot. So Tecton with 110 brakes would be a better fit than 100? Do you guys mount?
The 110mm would be the correct brake width option. We carry that binding in the store and will mount them as well!
thanks!
Awesome review guys!
Can this binding be used as a telemark binding,
Absolutely Not. Tele bindings drive turn from ball of foot. Tech fittings only allow you to hinge feely from front of toe for climbing only. If you try a tele-turn with an AT/Tech toe you will rip toe piece out of ski...I've seen it.
Great video
It's the gold standard
Great looking engineering. Pity it’s about to come up against the Salomon S/Lab shift. It and the Kingpin unfortunately look to be history.
I suppose i respectfully disagree. The Shift will way almost 900 grams, which puts it into a different league...
Pro Ski and Mountain Service - Fair point, but the Tecton is itself heavy by the standard of the lightest tech bindings, at around 600g more per pair than Speedfits. For the Freeride/Day Tour market, the 370g difference between Tecton & the Shift is probably not a deal breaker. Especially when considering the advantages of a proper downhill DIN certified binding with full elastic movement (47mm front v 13mm on Tecton), and the frame bindings (e.g. Baron at 2708g, Shift at 1700g) that most people in this market segment are used to. Great review BTW!